[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 8, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H1340-H1341]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         STANDING WITH UKRAINE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stanton). The Chair recognizes the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Espaillat) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today and stand with our brothers 
and sisters who are fighting for democracy, Mr. Speaker, for their 
country, for the world, in Ukraine.
  As you may know, Mr. Speaker, New York City is a gorgeous mosaic of 
people from all over the world. In my district, the 13th Congressional 
District, I stand in solidarity with constituents that come from 
Ukraine, Ukrainian Americans and Ukrainians who are part of my 
district.
  New York City stands in solidarity with them. People in the Brighton 
Beach area of Brooklyn, called Little Odessa today, we stand in 
solidarity with our Ukrainian brothers and sisters.
  Vladimir Putin has waged a war--it is called Putin's war--of 
unprecedented proportions on the people of Ukraine, the likes of which 
we haven't seen since World War II, Mr. Speaker.
  He continues to pound on civilian sites. As he waits to assault Kyiv, 
the world braces for what could be, really, an attack of unprecedented 
proportion as he prepares to slaughter the Ukrainian people and engage 
in, clearly, war crimes.

  These unprovoked and unjustified attacks have caused tragic losses in 
human life and suffering. They are grandparents. They are moms with 
their little children being forced out of their homes out of fear of 
rocket attacks; fathers, uncles, cousins leaving their families behind 
to defend democracy in Ukraine and on behalf of the world.
  This week, the Permanent Representative of Ukraine at the United 
Nations told the Security Council that hundreds of Ukrainian civilians 
have been killed, including children, Mr. Speaker.
  Thousands of people are wounded as a result of Russia's military 
aggression as Vladimir Putin continues to engage, to perpetrate war 
crimes.
  This is a war without remorse, Mr. Speaker. More than 1,000 civilians 
have died, and more than 1.5 million Ukrainians have been displaced, 
causing a humanitarian crisis.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Putin, Vladimir Putin, has engaged in war crimes. 
This isn't just Putin's war on Ukraine. It is a rebuke of Western 
values. It is a rebuke of democratic structures. It is a rebuke of the 
will of the people and basic human rights. It is a rebuke of law and 
order and peaceful coexisting.
  He has doubled down, Mr. Speaker, and has premeditatedly, illegally, 
and immorally engaged in this war. But those on the front lines in 
Ukraine are relentless in their defense of democracy.
  It is our duty, Mr. Speaker, to support Ukraine to the best of our 
ability, to defend its freedom and sovereignty from Putin's war.
  President Zelensky's message is clear. He will defend Ukrainian 
sovereignty and statehood to the very end,

[[Page H1341]]

and America must, we must, stand with him and every Ukrainian.
  I commend President Biden's rallying calls to our allies in response 
to Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, and urge continued support 
for the Ukrainian people as they violently resist tyranny in the name 
of freedom and democracy.
  Putin's actions are barbaric. They are a disregard of human rights, 
violating Ukrainian sovereignty and posing a threat to all of us across 
the planet.
  His actions are hurting the people of Russia as well. Dozens of 
cities across Russia saw people being arrested as they demonstrated 
against this illegal war.
  It is heartbreaking that during Women's History Month, on 
International Women's Day, we are witnessing thousands of Ukrainian 
women fleeing their homeland with their children to bordering 
countries.
  The United States and our allies must do everything in our power to 
prevent this from happening again.
  Mr. Speaker, I have introduced a resolution calling on Vladimir Putin 
and the Russians to be held accountable for war crimes.

                          ____________________